" If we want children to be seriously engaged in learning, to share their thoughts and feelings, to take risks, and to develop
a sense of social responsibility, then we need to organize classrooms in such a way that students feel safe and cared for-emotionally, intellectually, and physically" (Weinstein et. al., 53).
Wallwisher
Wallwisher is an interactive message board where students can post just about anything relevant to your board's title. So for instance, teachers might title his or her board “Math Sentences” and write a description directing students to write math sentences where addition and subtraction is used. Students can then post their answers on the corresponding message board. Not only can students post answers but they can also upload documents, images and youtube videos to the board as well. It is a great way to expand online learning, monitor students work, collect feedback, sound concerns, and expand your classroom community to online. How to use in the classroom: Wallwisher is a great interactive tool for students to use to communicate respectfully and cooperatively with one another. Students can make accounts and post questions, news, or comments and classmates can post responses to each student’s page. Teachers should join students’ accounts also to monitor students’ posts to one another to prevent cyber bullying. Teachers can also benefit from reading students wall to uncover their interests, strengths, and concerns while commenting to reveal your personality and care for the students too. Wallwishers allow you to extend the classroom community into the general community and aids in the teacher and class in developing empathy, listening skills, and understanding which makes for a well rounded effective learning environment.
Animoto
Animoto is an interactive tool that helps you to create videos from pictures, video clips, words and music. Build these videos with photos from your favorite social networking sites, your own music or the hundreds of tunes on Animoto and then share your video anywhere with the link and embedment codes given to you when you publish your video. Choose a layout to add those final personal touches to your video and then watch as students become engaged with this web tool, practicing their future careers in directing, editing and cinematography. Animoto has different pricing plans based on how you plan to use each package. Lite is free but restricts you to a video length while purchased plans supplying you with more layouts and film time. How to use it in the classroom: Use Animoto to allow students to express themselves and share with others, in video presentations, aspects of their lives. Within the first three weeks of school, assign students to make Animotos of pictures from the web or that they have taken about their hobbies or interests, family and friends, or goals for school and learning. Students will enjoy seeing and sharing with others their personal videos matched with music that they enjoy to make a display of their personalities. When students can relate with each other via what they see and hear in their videos, new relationships are established and the community forms.
Wallwisher
Wallwisher is an interactive message board where students can post just about anything relevant to your board's title. So for instance, teachers might title his or her board “Math Sentences” and write a description directing students to write math sentences where addition and subtraction is used. Students can then post their answers on the corresponding message board. Not only can students post answers but they can also upload documents, images and youtube videos to the board as well. It is a great way to expand online learning, monitor students work, collect feedback, sound concerns, and expand your classroom community to online.
How to use in the classroom: Wallwisher is a great interactive tool for students to use to communicate respectfully and cooperatively with one another. Students can make accounts and post questions, news, or comments and classmates can post responses to each student’s page. Teachers should join students’ accounts also to monitor students’ posts to one another to prevent cyber bullying. Teachers can also benefit from reading students wall to uncover their interests, strengths, and concerns while commenting to reveal your personality and care for the students too. Wallwishers allow you to extend the classroom community into the general community and aids in the teacher and class in developing empathy, listening skills, and understanding which makes for a well rounded effective learning environment.
Make your own photo slideshow at Animoto.
Animoto
Animoto is an interactive tool that helps you to create videos from pictures, video clips, words and music. Build these videos with photos from your favorite social networking sites, your own music or the hundreds of tunes on Animoto and then share your video anywhere with the link and embedment codes given to you when you publish your video. Choose a layout to add those final personal touches to your video and then watch as students become engaged with this web tool, practicing their future careers in directing, editing and cinematography. Animoto has different pricing plans based on how you plan to use each package. Lite is free but restricts you to a video length while purchased plans supplying you with more layouts and film time.
How to use it in the classroom: Use Animoto to allow students to express themselves and share with others, in video presentations, aspects of their lives. Within the first three weeks of school, assign students to make Animotos of pictures from the web or that they have taken about their hobbies or interests, family and friends, or goals for school and learning. Students will enjoy seeing and sharing with others their personal videos matched with music that they enjoy to make a display of their personalities. When students can relate with each other via what they see and hear in their videos, new relationships are established and the community forms.